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Sure, it might be simple to win a local HORSE tournament, but it takes a little more skill to make it to the big leagues. Fortunately, the team of coaches at Elevate NEXT usher aspiring b-ballers to new heights with summer camps and à la carte training sessions. The crew includes Marcus White—who briefly claimed the rebounding record on the Lakers D-League team before getting sidelined by an injury—alongside Sky Hyacinthe and Ben Aronin.

Lift, stretch, and sweat at Jewish Community Center in New Orleans and challenge yourself to a workout you'll enjoy.
If you've worked up an appetite, no worries! This gym also has a fabulous restaurant.
Youngsters don't need to sit out a trip to this gym — it's super family-friendly and perfect for little customers and their folks.
Their instructors know how to work out your body completely with one of their specialties being in MMA.
Cross fit burns calories like no other routines.
From one workout to the next, sweat will be pouring down as you complete circuit training.
Looking for a more personalized work out? Meet with one of the personal trainers on staff.
Craving a good cardio workout? Check out one of these high-intensity kickboxing classes.
Parking is plentiful, so visitors can feel free to bring their vehicles.

When you need something to do on your day off, visit Back 2 Basics Basketball Academy in Harahan and indulge in a day filled with fun and adventure.
Parking is plentiful, so patrons can feel free to bring their vehicles.

Check out S E Mackey Center in Baton Rouge and put an end to "putting it off".
Accommodating different levels of experience, injuries, or other limiting factors, the cross fit challenge is the workout plan you've been looking for.
Remember personal trainers are available to help strengthen your core and keep you on track.
Punch and kick away your stress and anger during one of these kickboxing classes.
Parking is plentiful, so visitors can feel free to bring their vehicles.

Groupon Guide

Whether played at a gym or a local playground court, pickup basketball is an entirely different beast from the officiated game. Players new to the pickup game tend to have lots of questions that need answering before they lace it up. Who calls fouls? Is it cool to talk trash? Is shirts and skins still a thing? To answer these questions, we turned to former college and semi-pro guard LaVar Merrell. Now a trainer at the East Bank Club—where none other than President Obama played on Election Day in 2008—Merrell gave us some tips on how to get the most out of your next pickup run.Be Proactive About Getting Into a GameMerrell's approach to getting playing time is simple: ask. "All you can say is, 'Hey man, do you have five? Can I play with you?’ Try to get in as soon as you can." Relying on your new shoes to get noticed won't necessarily get you into a game, either. "Whether you're wearing Jordans or Adidas or Nikes,” Merrell says, “we know some of those guys are just overcompensating because they're not that good.”Call Your Own Fouls, or Nobody Else WillSince pickup games don't have refs, fouls can sometimes become a point of contention. Should the ballcarrier call it when he gets hacked, or should the defender admit it when her hand-checking gets a little too physical? "The offensive player always calls fouls," Merrell insists. Some defenders will own up to fouling, but you shouldn't bank on it, especially if the contact is relatively light. Of course, it’s good to remember that "a slight bump is not a foul,” and you might get looked at the wrong way if you keep calling it as such.If You’re Hogging the Ball, Make Up for It ElsewhereNobody likes a ball hog, but your teammates should be fine with you jacking up lots of shots—as long as you make them. "If other people can vouch for you and you're a true scorer, then [it's ok to hog it]," Merrell says. But if you find yourself taking the lion's share of shots, be ready to make up for it elsewhere. You should be "getting rebounds, blocking shots, [and] at least playing some good defense.”Know Your Skills (and Your Limitations)Merrell advises all pickup basketball players to know their role on the court. "Stick to what you're good at," he says. If you know you can hit inside shots, don't stray far from the basket on offense. Still working on your three-pointer? Save the practice for when you're not in a game.Trash Talk Isn’t Just Allowed—It’s Part of the GameIf the player you're guarding scores a few in a row on you, don't be surprised to hear about it. Trash talk is part of what makes pickup basketball fun. "Trash talking is okay as long as it doesn't get personal," Merrell says, adding that anything said on the court stays there and shouldn't be taken to heart.This Isn’t the NBA, So Relax and Have Some FunA good teammate plays tough defense, moves without the ball, and looks to make the pass, but don't get too wrapped up in your LeBron impression. Remember, this isn’t Game 7 of the Finals. As Merrell puts it, "At the end of the day, everybody's just playing for fun.”Photos: Grant Walsh, Groupon.

Alexis Stoudemire is better proof stars are just like us than anything Us Weekly has turned up so far. She’s married to New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire, and she’s also an ambassador for the foundation they run together: The Amar'e and Alexis Stoudemire Foundation, which connects at-risk kids with education opportunities.But she and Amar’e also have four kids of their own, and she’s a super hands-on mom. So much so that when I called her, I caught her in the middle of filling out a stroller warranty. See? Stars really are just like us! Alexis is definitely more beauty-savvy than the average person, though, so I chatted with her about her skincare and fitness regimens, as well as what it’s like to bathe in wine.The following interview has been condensed and edited.Her Beauty RegimenFAVIN: What’s one part of your beauty regimen that you never skip?ALEXIS STOUDEMIRE: That extra steam session in the shower. It’s so easy, but I just make sure I have my facial products with me and I’m getting that extra steam [while I wash my face]. With products, I keep it old school with Neutrogena.F: Was there anything motherhood forced you to drop from your beauty regimen?AS: No. Because now that I’m a mother, I still need to make time for myself so I can be a better mother for them. So, for example, I make sure I get a facial once a month. That is time for myself, and then also it’s good for my skin. F: What kind of facials are you getting? Because you have fantastic skin.AS: At Skin by Mamie, [Mamie’s] facials are totally customized to you. She does oxygen, light treatments, masks, and she also does extractions, which I also love. It’s so good. Her Fitness RegimenF: You ran the New York Marathon last year, and I’m curious—what are your other favorite workouts?AS: It changes as my life changes. When I was pregnant with my youngest son, who’s now 20 months, I worked out with a trainer twice a week … Then post-baby, I was incorporating more cardio slowly, until I started my 17 weeks of training for the marathon, which was mostly running and cross-training. I am so done with that right now … Lately, I’m taking random classes at my gym. So far, I like this ab class that I’m taking, and this total body-strengthening class. So I do those twice a week, and on the off days I run a little.F: What keeps you motivated?AS: There’s two things. I always tell my girlfriends, “I work out to eat whatever and drink whatever.” I don’t want to deprive myself, and I do love breads, and I do love hamburgers. I love food! So I don’t want to not try the dessert because I’m dieting. [Also,] I saw my results after the marathon, and I love how my clothes fit … That’s what gets me up and motivated—I love how confident I feel.Red-Wine BathsF: Your husband has famously tried red wine baths. How did that come about?AS: I’m the one who turned him onto them! I sent [him] to a wine-bath place as a Father’s Day getaway, and he was like, “No, I just want to stay at home.” And I was like, “No, you have to go and relax,” because he’s always giving so much. So he went, and he loved it, and he’s there all the time now.F: Have you tried it?AS: I have. It’s an actual bath, so it’s not like it’s cold or room temperature. It’s actually very very warm … I was also nervous before my first one because I thought it would stain my swimming suit, but it didn’t. Primping for PaparazziF: Has dealing with the paparazzi affected how you approach beauty?AS: Being with a celebrity, and also being in a major city, walking your kids to school could be a picture moment. You’re just waking up, you have crust in your eyes … but between making the kids breakfast and getting them ready to go to school, I honestly don’t have time to put on makeup in the mornings. Who does? What I’ve learned is to throw on a hat or a hoodie, throw on some sunglasses and some lip gloss, and call it a day. That way, you don’t have to worry about eye makeup, and you can keep it moving.Hypothetical SituationsF: If you had two seconds to pack for an away game, what’s the one product you’re going to take with you?AS: Ole Henriksen wipes. I pick them up from Sephora, and I keep them by my nightstand, so I can easily take my makeup off after a long night. There’s one for brightening, one for makeup removal, and one for pore-refining.F: If you could only wear gowns or sweats for the rest of your life, which would you choose?AS: It would definitely be sweats. I’m in a sweats onesie right now as we speak.All photos courtesy of Alexis StoudemireRead about the beauty regimens of other famous faces:Giuliana Rancic Loves Her Chicago Stylist... and Cotton CandyA TV Reporter's Tips for Getting Camera-Ready

The first round of the NBA playoffs was historically great, but those five Game 7s failed to bring us even one true upset. Say all you want about Washington being a dark horse, but we should have seen this coming when Nenê grew his hair out to look like the Predator. And can you really call Damian Lillard’s game-winning three a surprise when he’s done it, say, once or twice before?
So we’re standing by the claim we made a few weeks ago: the NBA’s playoffs are still the most predictable of the four major sports. Well, we’re not standing so much as slumping. Although that initial round of drinking games took our livers into OT, we’re not about to renege on our promise to bring you a drinking game for every series in these playoffs. Only half the teams will survive Round 2, and the same applies to everyone daring enough to partake.
THE EASTERN CONFERENCE
Indiana Pacers (1) vs. Washington Wizards (5)
There’s a certain level of drunk we like to call “The Hibbert.” It starts to take effect after about 12 whiskeys or—in the most extreme cases—in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Side effects vary but commonly include the inability to block a shot, play defense, or catch anything resembling a basketball.
The Drink: Rob Roy
The Rules: If you’re an Indiana Pacers fan, you’re probably already engaged in several cosmic rituals designed to snap Roy Hibbert out of his funk. It won’t hurt to add another. This drinking game invokes the spirit of Hibbert’s namesake, Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor, to help the center rediscover his warrior instincts. The rules are simple: take a drink every time Hibbert misses a shot, fumbles a rebound, or fails to catch a pass. It will either help him rally or help you forget—the closest thing to a win-win in the NBA.
Miami Heat (2) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)
The Brooklyn Nets are taking their talents to South Beach, where billion-year veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett should feel right at home among Miami’s famously raucous crowd of retirees. The Nets have already shown they’re willing to antagonize their own fans on Twitter, and we can’t wait to see what insults they come up with next.
The Drink: Any hard liquor will do.
The Rules: In honor of Paul “The Truth” Pierce, here’s a twist on your typical game of Truth or Dare. At the beginning of the game, everyone takes a turn asking the person to their left “Truth or Dare.” If they answer “Truth,” they have to drink every time Pierce hits a shot. If they answer “Dare,” well…good luck to them.
THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (5)
Just when it looked like the Blazers belonged to LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian “Ice for Blood” Lillard stepped in, pulled up, and nailed a jumper that basically said, “I own this team.” The best thing about Lillard is his face after hitting a game winner: cold, expressionless, and clutch. Which brings us to our next drinking game…
The Drink: The cheapest bottle of tequila you can find. No chasers allowed.
The Rules: Pour a shot of the nasty stuff for everyone playing. The first time Lillard hits a shot, everyone drinks. Anybody who grimaces or shows the slightest sign of displeasure has to drink another shot the next time Lillard scores. Once you’ve successfully taken a shot without contorting your face, feel free to sit down and watch this highlight another dozen times:
Oklahoma City Thunder (2) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (3)
Of all the second-round series, this one appears to be the only true toss-up. Famed prognosticator Nate Silver gives the Clippers a 52% chance of winning the series; coincidentally, those are the same odds of you passing out in a ditch sometime during the third quarter of Game 6.
The Drink: In honor of Nate Silver and the other Mr. Reliable, Kevin Durant, we’re sticking with the 40-ounce Silver Thunder from Round 1.
The Rules: You’ll need two players and a coin for this game—heads is Clippers, tails is Thunder. At the start of each quarter, flip the coin to determine which team you represent. If your team scores more points in that quarter, you’re safe. But if you’re outscored, you have to chug your entire forty before the next quarter starts. There are 50/50 odds that you’ll drink 80 ounces of malt liquor during this game, which is pretty manageable over a two-hour span. Then again, you might be stuck with 160 ounces, in which case: can we have your stereo?
Round 2 of the NBA playoffs starts on Monday, May 5. Stay tuned for our buzzed coverage of Round 3.